Title: Mending a Broken Man
Disclaimer: Angst, language, slash.
Author Note: Updated News.
Chapter Three: Forget About You
The rain was falling steadily as he walked around the grounds of the hospital. He hadn't bothered to grab an umbrella or his coat before walking out into the dreary weather. And he didn't care in the least that he was getting wet, more like soaked. His mind was full of doubt and anger, depression and even a touch of regret. He had talked with Cuddy and hadn't been happy with what she said. To him it made perfect sense to leave his love at the door of the hospital. He was more than able to do his job without running to House every hour of ever day to make out. But he knew full well that if word got back to House that everything would fall apart. That House would go out of his way to break the rules and piss off the people that controlled their jobs. Wilson had already suffered for him once when Tritter had made him shut down his practice. He wasn't about to let his work suffer again. He loved House, but the other doctor had to learn that rules applied to everyone.
That thought actually made Wilson chuckle. House didn't care about rules and would never think of them as applying to him. This was the same doctor that had been more than happy to walk out of his court hearing even though it meant he was in contempt of court and would spend time in jail. This was the doctor that bribed an orderly to slip him Vicodin when he was supposed to be detoxing in the hospital's rehab. No, when it came to rules, House had to break them. He freely crossed the line and never looked back to see what sort of consequences his actions had. He didn't notice the people suffering in his wake.
Wilson ran a hand over his mouth as he stopped to stand under the protection of a tree. Some how he was going to have to keep House at arms length while they were working without completely pushing him away. He would then make it well known that he loved him while it was just the two of them. But what if House read something more into? What if House thought he was uncomfortable loving him in a public place or uncomfortable with their relationship all together? He didn't want to do that, not when things were still a little rocky.
He absently kicked a rock. This was his entire fault. He was the one that kept running to House when he was in pain. He was the one at the door every time House needed someone to hold him up or bring him back from the depths of his own mind. He had placed himself in the situation where House felt he could reveal how he truly felt. Maybe if he had bothered to keep his distance everything would be fine now. There was a slight chance that House would be dead too. It was a lose-lose situation all the way around.
"What are you doing out here? Are you trying to act more like me?" House asked as he strode over to the tree. He didn't have an umbrella with him but was wearing a coat.
"I was just thinking about something," Wilson said, trying to think up a quick lie. "I got some test results back for one of my patients and their treatment isn't going as well as we thought."
"So you decided to walk around in the cold rain without a coat and catch your death? Stop trying to be me, Wilson," House said to him. "I don't want to be you. That would mean I'd have to care about people I don't know."
Wilson couldn't help smiling a little. "You'd have to care about the people you know, too."
"But if I spent all that time caring about other people I wouldn't have any time left to care about myself. Now that just doesn't even seem right," House remarked as he came to rest beside Wilson under the tree.
They stood there in silence for a few minutes, listening to the rain and muffled sounds of the city. People came and went all around them but they mutually felt as though they were in another space and time. Wilson wanted to tell House the truth. At the same time he wanted to wrap his arms around the other doctor and hold him close. Since leaving his wife he hadn't felt so loved. Hell, even with his wife he hadn't felt this way. And now he was supposed to tell House that they couldn't be open with their relationship. For that's what he felt this was really about. It had nothing to do with them getting distracted while they worked. No, the directors were worried how patients and other doctors would react to two openly gay doctors working and dating in the same place.
"Why are you really out here, Wilson?" House asked a moment later, his voice somewhat hushed. He knew that something was bothering Wilson. They had spent enough time together that they were starting to sense each other's moods.
"I told you," Wilson simply replied.
"Don't lie to me. I know that Cuddy called you into her office," House told him. "She's not planning to take away my Vicodin again, is she?"
In a way, Wilson wanted to say. "No, she's not planning anything against you, House. It was just to discuss something I had asked her. Something to do with my practice. Don't worry about it."
"You're still lying to me," House scowled.
"Can we just drop it?" Wilson asked, massaging the back of his neck.
House studied him for a minute. He could get an answer out of Cuddy if he badgered her enough. "All right. We can drop it. On one condition."
"And what would that be?" Wilson asked.
"Kiss me," House stated simply.
Wilson's heart beat a little faster. He looked around; taking note of everyone that would see them. Everyone that could run and tell Cuddy what they were doing. "I…" he let the words die on his lips. How could he tell House no without making it too personal?
Frustrated with Wilson's stalling, House slipped the fingers of his right hand into the waistband of Wilson's pants and pulled him close. He brought their lips together, tasting the rain on Wilson's mouth. Wilson relaxed, all the tension and worry slipping from his body. How could he ever forget about House? How could he keep his feelings locked deep inside? He embraced House as their kiss grew a little deeper. In that moment he didn't care what happened to either one of them. He loved House and House loved him. That's all that really mattered. And no one could break them apart.
